Evaluating Arguments and Claims

1. Evaluating Arguments and Claims

2. What is an Argument? • Definition: • An argument presents logical reasons and evidence to support a viewpoint • Purpose: • Topersuade others to share ones opinions and beliefs by supporting these beliefs with evidence and examples.

3. Argument Example • Claim: • Smoking cigarettes is dangerous to one’s health • Support: • Cigarette smoking causes more than 440,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is about one in five deaths • Smoking causes about 90% (or 9 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% (or 8 out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths in women.More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer. • Cigarette smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body, including: Bladder, bone marrow, blood, esophagus, kidneys and ureters, larynx (voice box), lungs, mouth, nose, and throat, pancreas, stomach and trachea • Source:http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/

4. Parts of an Argument • ISSUE - problem or controversy about which people disagree • CLAIM- the position on the issue (ASSERTION) • SUPPORT- reasons and evidence that the claim is reasonable and should be accepted • COUNTER-ARGUMENT- opposing viewpoints

5. Types of Claims Definition • CLAIM OF FACT - statement that can be proven or verified by observation or research Purpose: • To support ones viewpoint with factual evidence. As a result, the argument is more convincing. Example: • “Within ten years, destruction of rain forests will cause hundreds of plant and animal species to become extinct.”

6. Types of Claims Definition • CLAIM OF VALUE - states that one thing or idea is better or more desirable than another. Purpose • Claims of value help sway the reader by convincing them to consider a “better” option Example • “Requiring community service in high school will produce more community-aware graduates. If students do not volunteer, they will not learn about the real world and the value of helping others”

7. Types of Claims Definition • CLAIM OF POLICY - suggests what should or ought to be done to solve a problem. Purpose • To convince individuals to take what the author believes is the best possible action to solve a problem or issue. Definition • “To reduce school violence, more gun and metal detectors should be installed in public schools.”

8. Types of Support: How an author supports his or her viewpoint • REASON - a general statement that supports a claim. • EVIDENCE - consists of facts, statistics, experiences, comparisons, and examples that show why the claim is valid. • EMOTIONAL APPEALS - ideas that are targeted toward needs or values that readers are likely to care about.

9. Strategies for Reading an Argument Think Before you Read! • What does the title suggest? Preview! • Who is the author, and what are his or her qualifications? • What is the date of publication? • What do I already know about the issue? Read Actively! • Read once for an initial impression. • Read the argument several more times. • Annotate (“mark up the text”, ask questions, make notes, etc.) as you read. • Highlight key terms.

10. Evaluating Arguments Definition: • To evaluate means to judge or assess. Purpose: • It is important for a reader to be able to process information given and decide if the information is factual, leading or biased in order to form an opinion. Example: • Political ads are often intentionally misleading. It is important for voters to make sure that an ad is factual and not biased before choosing who to vote for.

11. Strategies for Evaluating Arguments • Evaluate Types of Evidence • Is it sufficient to support the claim? • Is the evidence relevant to the claim? • Can the evidence be proven as fact, not opinion? • Is there bias? • Personal experiences may be biased • Watch for leading language • Words that have strong positive or negative connotations like “wise” or “terrible”. • Did the author omit (leave out) important information? • Are all sides of an argument presented?

12. Strategies for Evaluating Arguments • Opposing Viewpoints or Counter-argument • Does the author address opposing viewpoints clearly and fairly? • Does the author refute the opposing viewpoint with logic and relevant evidence? • Advertising or Propaganda Techniques • Bandwagon technique: “Everyone is doing it! You should too!” • Plain Folk: the “average” person uses this or a politician can relate to the typical American • Celebrity or Doctor Endorsement: Adam Levine for Proactiv!

13. Strategies for Evaluating an Argument • Identify the claim. • Outline the reasons to support the claim. • What types of evidence are used? • Evaluate the evidence. Is their enough evidence provided and does it make sense? • What emotional appeals are used? • Is there language with strong positive or negative connotations? • Does the author recognize or refute counter arguments?

14. Author’s Bias Definition: • Bias is a preference for one side of an argument. • When writers are said to have a bias, it means they allow their opinion on a topic to influence what or how they write about that topic. Purpose: • Bias is often used to help sway the reader’s opinion on a topic

15. Examples of Bias: The author’s bias is against ____________ • Example: Originally, Mayor Bloomberg made the inconsiderate decision to not cancel the New York City marathon. The author’s bias in favor of ____________ • Example: Mayor Bloomberg made the wise decision to cancel the New York City marathon after Hurricane Sandy. The author reveals no personal bias. • Example: Originally, Mayor Bloomberg made the decision to not cancel the New York City marathon.